What is multiple sclerosis? Selma Blair reveals 'incurable' MS diagnosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a lifelong condition which can cause a range of debilitating symptoms.

Actress Selma Blair revealed yesterday she suffers from the disease, which she was diagnosed with in August this year.

“I have #multiplesclerosis . I am in an exacerbation. By the grace of the lord, and will power and the understanding producers at Netflix , I have a job,” she told her 694,000 Instagram followers in a candid post.

“A wonderful job. I am disabled. I fall sometimes. I drop things. My memory is foggy. And my left side is asking for directions from a broken gps.”

What is multiple sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune condition affecting the brain and/or the spinal cord.

According to the NHS website, the condition “can sometimes cause serious disability, although it can occasionally be mild.”

It affects over 100,000 people in the UK, according to the website, and is two to three times more common in women than men.

What are the symptoms of multiple sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis has a wide range of symptoms including fatigue, trouble with walking, blurred vision and problems with bladder control.

Sufferers might also experience muscle stiffness and spasms, problems with balancing and numbness in parts of the body.

Mental symptoms include problems with thinking, learning and planning.

What is the cure for multiple sclerosis?

There is no cure for multiple sclerosis, however, there are a number of different treatments to make symptoms more manageable.

These include medications including steroid tablets or injections, anti-fatigue drugs such as amantadine or muscle-relaxants such as baclofen or gabapentin.

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is also used to treat multiple sclerosis in other cases.

MS sufferers who have mobility problems may also use a walking stick or a wheelchair.

If you or someone you know is suffering symptoms of multiple sclerosis, the MS Society website can offer help and support.

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